ACFW Conference

On September 18 my oldest daughter and I flew to Minnesota so I could attend my very first writers conference, American Christian Fiction Writers. What an amazing experience! I learned so much, made so many new friends, and met my VERY favorite Christian authors. The picture above is me with Deborah Raney and Tamera Alexander, two awesome authors and now my friends! Meeting these ladies was wonderful, and they were so kind and encouraging.

September Already?!

Wow! I cannot believe that September is here already! This particular month has always been a busy one for my family....we jokingly refer to it as our "Family Birthday Month" due to so many birthdays. It makes for a fun, although hectic, few weeks! This September will be extra-busy for me since I'm planning on attending the American Christian Fiction Writers' Conference in Minnesota (which I'm so excited about!). I need to make sure though, that no matter how busy my days are, to always start out my day by spending some quiet time with the Lord. I've always found that my days just seem to go better when I do this. That sure doesn't mean my days will be trouble-free, but at least I can handle those trials better when I've started the day out with some time in the Word. ~~ It's so easy to get caught up in the rushing and busyness of our schedules, but we all need to take time to read our Bible and reflect on the blessings the Lord has given us. ~~ I've posted a picture of my kitten Delilah, as she looks reflective while resting on my piano bench!

Left-handed People Celebrate!

Today (August 13) is National Left-handers' Day ! Being a left-handed person, I always try to remember that this is "our special day" each year. However, very few people are aware that we lefties even have a special day, so I take it upon myself to remind others each year. I don't know who started it, or when it was started, or even how August 13 was determined to be THE special date for lefties, but several years ago I discovered it on a calendar and made a point to remember the date! Being a left-handed person is not easy. I remember way back in college taking a golf class....I was the only lefty in the class, so the instructor always had to "reverse" his demonstrations for me. Same thing with other activities too (tennis,etc.). For me personally, the most "annoying" thing is when I write with ink and my little finger ends up with ink after I'm finished writing (from dragging along the words I've just written). I've heard it said that "it's not a left-handed world" and I agree....most things are geared to right-handed people, since they are the majority. But I've also heard it said that "left-handed people are creative and special" and I LOVE that saying! So if you're a lefty, enjoy this special day, and we'll just be thankful we have hands to use....no matter how awkward things can be sometimes!

A NEW BABY and WISDOM TEETH

Originally I thought this week would be a "typical" summer week with our usual activities. Then our oral surgeon's office had a cancellation so my son's wisdom teeth were able to be removed this morning (it's a great relief to get that done while school is out!). Thankfully the procedure went well and there were no problems pulling all four teeth. ~ AND....my niece/Godchild Ginger gave birth to a precious baby girl (Isabelle) yesterday afternoon, so we are thrilled! We thought the baby would not arrive until early August (or the very end of July) but she decided to make her appearance July 23. What a blessing to have a healthy baby - - Thank you Lord! ~ We never know what a week will hold, but we do know Who holds our week in His hands. And because of Him, I really don't need to dread or worry about things (although I still do sometimes). If I will just remember to trust in the Lord, He will guide me through whatever a week may hold. (Proverbs 3:5)

LEAVING NOVEMBER

Each time I read another book by Deborah Raney, it reminds me why she is one of my VERY favorite authors! Deb writes in such a way that it is easy to be "swept into" the story, and I feel that I am actually there and listening to the characters speaking. Deb has a series of 3 books that take place in fictional Clayburn, Kansas. I read the first one last year, REMEMBER TO FORGET. I loved that story and eagerly awaited the second book, LEAVING NOVEMBER. I just finished reading it, and LOVED IT!! In this story, the messages of putting the past behind us and moving forward with God's help are shown with true-to-life characters and situations, all set in a cozy little town I would love to visit (if it weren't fictional!). Now I can't wait to read Deb's third Clayburn book....and any other Deborah Raney books I can get my hands on! I highly recommend LEAVING NOVEMBER for an enjoyable, inspiring read.

Summer Days

I hope everyone is having a safe, fun summer. It's hard to believe that July is almost here! In spite of the heat and humidity where we live (Georgia) there are some great things about summer in my state. One of my favorites is the juicy Georgia watermelons - - yum! Another great thing about summer in Georgia is all the beautiful flowers and plants that grow in our state. The magnolias and gardenias are so fragrant, and due to the humidity, usually ferns grow well too (if not out in the direct sun). This year I have 2 hanging baskets of Hibiscus, which I am enjoying. They are a lovely shade of orange, and I'm doing my best to keep them alive - LOL!! May your summer days be blessed with family time and fun.

CONTROLLING INTEREST

While on my wonderful family vacation last week at the Georgia coast, I read the book Controlling Interest by Elizabeth White. I had not read any of her previous books, and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced story! The book's action, sprinkled with humor and romance, kept me turning pages until after midnight (one evening I even read instead of participating in the family games for that night*gasp*). Most importantly, though, is the faith message in the book. The believable characters are certainly not perfect, but they strive to have a closer walk with the Lord and find out that He is with them no matter how bad the situation looks. I highly recommend Controlling Interest and look forward to reading more of Beth's books!